iPhone Dev Team has released iPhone 3G Unlock solution (code name “yellowsn0w”). As are mentioned in its blog, the unlock solution is now only work with baseband 2.28.00 (the most recent baseband). That means the yellowsn0w 3G unlock solution is now for everyone!


Quoted from iPhone Dev Blog, a few notes about the unlock application:

  • There is a known issue with SIM cards that have STK (SIM Toolkit) application menus. These menus are usually items such as “top up” “get credit” “lotto numbers” etc. These menu items confuse the application sometimes. Removing and reinserting the SIM once after reboot (give it about 10 secs after you see the slide to unlock widget) fixes this issue. We’re working on a better fix.
  • For those of you using SIM cards without STK menus, the application has some optional arguments that will make the unlock much faster for you. So either experiment on your own (use “yellowsn0w -h” for usage) or wait for a customization writeup.
  • After you install yellowsn0w via Cydia, you should return to the Cydia main menu then reboot your iPhone with the 3rd party SIM installed. Wait for the slide to unlock screen, then wait 10 or 15 secs more. If you don’t see your carrier name pop up, then remove your SIM, reinsert it, and wait 10 secs more. This is the step we’ll be working on eliminating next.

You should aware that the unlock application is still in BETA. There is a chance that it may not work for some SIM cards and carriers. And a special note for T-Mobile User: To make your unlock a success, you should first turn off the 3G switch in Settings.

Before you can use the unlock solution, you should first jailbreak the iPhone 3G and upgrade to the latest baseband (2.28.00). That’s important. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the unlock. For more information about jailbreak firmware 2.2, you can check out this jailbreak guide.

The 3G unlock solution is now available via Cydia and Installer. You can download it by adding its Cydia source (http://apt9.yellowsn0w.com/) or Installer source (http://i.yellowsn0w.com/). You can check out my post on how to add Cydia's sources.


The unlock application is actually a small program with no GUI that is launched on boot. It injects the payload at boot and also whenever there is a baseband reset. The process is automatic, so you won’t notice anything about it and you should expect the iPhone 3G is unlocked after reboot.


Note: You should ensure you’re using baseband 2.28.00. You can check your baseband version by tapping “Settings” -> “General” -> “About” -> Modem Firmware

For details about the unlock instructions, please check out the official release note at iPhone Dev Blog. And do remember to leave comment and let us know if the unlock works or not!




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